August 21, 2005
Who voted Louisville #1 in the AP poll?
Big East newcomer Louisville is getting quite a bit of attention going into this season. The Cardinals and their high powered offense put together a pretty good season last year in Conference USA and look to be pretty salty again this year.
Louisville is the trendy pick amongst many media types & fans to win the Big East. That being said, I nearly fell out of my chair when Louisville got a first place vote in the AP preseason poll over Southern Cal, Texas, and other consensus top teams.
Louisville's first place vote comes courtesy of Joe Giglio of The News and Observer in Raleigh, N.C. Why?
Actually, Giglio said he voted Louisville first for two reasons. The first is he watched the Cards play on TV often last season and was dazzled by Petrino's offense, especially against Boise State in the Liberty Bowl.The second is there is not an Ohio State, Texas or Virginia Tech on their schedule. The only team on Louisville's schedule that made the initial AP Top 25 is Pittsburgh. The Panthers are 23rd. Not exactly mission impossible.
"About 70 percent of it is their schedule," said Giglio, who said he was a graduate of North Carolina State, not the Speed School. "I projected the final records for all the teams from BCS conferences. The only team I had with an unbeaten record was Louisville. I don't see anybody on their schedule that can beat them."
You can project schedules all you like, but have yet to see anything from Louisville that says new QB Brian Brohm can put a 75-ish percent completion rate the way QB Stefan LeFors did last year. Nor have I seen anything in ANY of UofL's games that says that they have the depth to lock horns with the likes of Southern Cal, Texas, or Tennessee and lose by fewer than 14.
Yes, Louisville ripped Boise State in a bowl game, but that was last year and --with all due respect to the Broncos-- Southern Cal/Texas/Tennessee aren't Boise State.
Maybe it's just a publicity stunt. Maybe Giglio really thinks Louisville is the best team in the country. (Maybe he thinks it's a basketball poll!)
Giglio hasn't convinced me and neither have the Cardinals. Give me Pitt in the Big East and I'll watch for Louisville in the Gator Bowl.
Comments:
posted on August 22, 2005 8:43 AM — link — abuse?Kevin Donahue said:
Oh, boy. Well, I'll take your hotel reservations off your hands when they don't, Maurice.
posted on August 23, 2005 6:41 AM — link — abuse?
So, other than the fact that I only watched four of their games last year, you agree with me, huh?
Joe Wallace said:
posted on August 23, 2005 4:15 PM — 205.188.116.199 — link — abuse?
One thing I would bet on is that if last years orange bowl would have pitted USC against UL, that UL would have fared much better than Oklahoma did. USC would probably have won the game but by 45-41 or some score like that. If UL goes 11-0 they deserve to be in the Rose Bowl.
boifromtroy said:
posted on August 24, 2005 2:31 PM — 66.134.232.250 — link — abuse?
You say: "If U of L goes undefeated they will deserve to be in the Rose Bowl..."
But why is this year any different from last year?!?
Mark H said:
posted on August 25, 2005 10:20 AM — 136.165.114.104 — link — abuse?
Because U of L is in the Big East now, a BCS conference,not Conference USA, a so-called "mid-major" conference. And are you telling me that LSU or Tennessee has an easier road to perfection than U of L...I think not... And it's not crack, it's gonja
Mark H said:
posted on August 25, 2005 10:24 AM — 136.165.114.104 — link — abuse?
Texas: @Ohio St...Oklahoma...Texas A&M
Tennessee: @Florida...@LSU...Georgia
Michigan: @Mich St...@Iowa...Ohio St
LSU: Tennessee...Florida...Auburn...
On the other hand....
Louisville: Oregon St...@West Virginia...Pittsburgh
Need I Say More?
posted on August 25, 2005 10:38 AM — link — abuse?
Louisville definitely has a softer schedule - but I don't see that as being in Louisville's favor. If they go undefeated (and I don't believe the will, but if they do) you could still run into a situation where a one-loss team may be more deserving that Louisville.
posted on August 25, 2005 10:40 AM — link — abuse?
Louisville definitely has a softer schedule - but I don't see that as being in Louisville's favor. If they go undefeated (and I don't believe the will, but if they do) you could still run into a situation where a one-loss team may be more deserving than an undefeated (and potentially unproven) Louisville.
Mark H said:
posted on August 25, 2005 3:15 PM — 12.220.224.214 — link — abuse?
It can go either way, that's why I said they would ultimately be the Auburn of this year. As far as them being underserving, that is YOUR opinion...will Terry Bradshaw and the Ice Cream guy think the same thing? THE BCS IS A MESS...PERIOD. But if you're in a "BCS conference" and you go undefeated you should, in theory, have a shot for the title.
boifromtroy said:
posted on August 25, 2005 4:29 PM — 66.134.232.250 — link — abuse?
Hervey--my ponmt about going undefeated was that there were 6 teams which went undefeated last season and only 2 got to play for the National Championship.
Let's face it, the Big East is borderline mid-Major in College football right now, and that should affect how its teams are viewed in the big picture.
John B said:
posted on September 9, 2005 10:34 PM — 12.220.64.77 — link — abuse?
A lot of people out there just plain don't know that much about Louisville Football. I on the otherhand, am a fanatic. I have followed the CARDS since before I could walk. I remeber the years when one more big win could have really put them on the map. There have been some great victories, some devastating losses, and more than a few legendary players. Some are in the Hall, some will get there. The point is this, I know they deserve the praise, cuz they're MY TEAM. Most of you guys know what you know because ESPN puts it out there.
Steve said:
posted on September 19, 2005 4:09 PM — 209.214.175.60 — link — abuse?
I attended the Cards, Oregon State game this weekend. I saw what Oregon State did to USC last year in that close loss. UofL was down ten points early on and I know every one saw the final score Saturday. Guarantee USC is Watching UofL this season. If I were playing for the Trojans I sure would.
Fan of the Game said:
posted on October 25, 2005 2:09 PM — 12.43.234.14 — link — abuse?
Louisville is a "good team" at best. For someone to consider them a contender for the National Title is assinine. Going 11-0 against some of the nations weaker schools doesn't constitute the consideration to be ranked above any 2-3 loss teams in the ACC, SEC, PAC-10 or Big 12. As bad as the Big 12 is this year, Louisville couldn't win either division if they played every game at home. Louisville is a good team that will post a good record, but there is nothing great about them.
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boifromtroy said:
posted on August 21, 2005 8:09 PM — 68.233.235.234 — link — abuse?As important--who voted USC #3?!?